Switch-operating mechanism



0. SPENCER.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED APR. I B. I919.

,3 1 2, 8 1 3. v Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET amen fir: Ora 5pencer 0. SPENCER.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 191M 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

26\ /6 Is is 28 Ora Spencer Patentd Aug. 12,1919. v

one. srnncnn, 0F LOGAN, OHIO.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Application filed April 18, 1919. Serial N 0. 291,043.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORA SPENCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Logan, in the county of Hocking, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Switch- Operating Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

The invention relates to mechanisms for operating switches and has for its object to provide a mechanism of this character, adapted to be located to one side of a railway and connected to the switch points whereby the points may be moved to allow a train to pass on to a siding.

A further object is to provide a switch operating mechanism wherein a sliding bar is employed, said bar being connected to the switch points at one end thereof and its other end being in engagement with an elongated notch in an operation lever, said elongated notch allowing the longitudinal movement of the bar when the switch points are engaged and moved by the flanges of the wheel of a train. Also to provide the slid able bar with notches, adapted to be engaged by forming a detent for the slidable bar, the other notch being adapted to be en aged by the detent lever when the switch points have been moved by the wheel flanges of the train, thereby providing detent means for holding the switch points in open positions.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a railway and the switch operating mechanism located at the side thereof.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2..

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a portion; of the slidable bar.-

one notch being a weighted lever Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates the main line of a railway and 2 switch points adapted to be moved so that a train may be allowed to enter a side track.

A switch operating mechanism is located at the side of the track and comprises a base 3, which may be secured to the ground in any suitable manner. The base 3 is provided with a longitudinal channel 4 in which a slidable bar 5 is adapted to slide; the inner end of the bar 5 is connected to the switch points 2 as at 6 and is adapted to move the switch points when it is moved longitudinally in the channel 4 of the base 3. The bar 5 comprises the double bars 7 and a bar 6 which latter connects to the switch points and has its rear end disposed between side bars 7 and is held in position by the plate 8. The rear'ends 0f the bars 7 are secured together and held in spaced relation to each other by the cleat 9 which is adapted to be received by an elongated notch 10 in a link. 11, which has one of its ends connected to an operating lever 12 which is pivoted to a standard 13 as at 14.

Secured at.15 to the sides of the base are metallic arms 16, which are bent as at 17 thereby forming horizontal portions 18, said horizontal portions being in turn bent as at 19 thereby forming vertical portions 20 in parallel relation to each other. Pivoted at 21 between two of the portions 20, is a detent lever 22 23, on the end of which a weight 24 is adjustably mounted. Depending downwardly from the arm 23 and at right angle thereto is a detent arm 25, the lower end of which is bifurcated thereby forming arms 26, the lower ends of which are rounded as at 27 and are adapted to be received by notches 28 and 29 in the bars 7, thereby preventing the displacement of the slidable member when the same is jarred.

The operation is as follows: When a train passes over the track, the flanges of the wheels will engage the switch points 2, between the same and the rails; this will cause the slidable bar 5 to move longitudinally in the base 3 and the notch 28, will be pulled out of engagement with the end 27 of the arm 26; however the parts are so proportioned that when the switch points are in their outermost positions, the end 27 of the arm 26, will engage the notch 29, thereby holding the switch points in open positions and the weight 24: insuring the engagement having a horizontal arm of the same. Then the switch is thrown by hand, the lever 12 is moved and the end of the elongated notch forced into engagement with the cleat 9; then a further movement of the link 11 will cause the slidable bar 5 to move longitudinally, which longitudinal movement will cause the ends 27 of the arms 26 to be forced out of engagement with the notches 2S and into engagement with the notches 29, thereby opening the switch. However when the switch points are being thrown by the flanges of car wheels, the elongated notch 10 allows the movement of the bar 5 without movement of the lever 12, and consequent breaking of the lever mechanism.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is 1. A switch operating mechanism com prising a base having a channel therein, a slidable bar mounted in said channel and having its inner end connected to switch points, a frame arching'said slidable bar and having a weighted detent pivoted thereon, one arm of said detent being adapted to engage a notch in the face of the slidable bar and a second notch in the face of the slidable bar and so positioned that when the switch points are thrown by the flanges of the train wheel the end of the arm of the detent lever will be forced out of the notch and into the second notch thereby preventng longitudinal movement of the slidable Copies of this patent may be obtained for 2. A switch operating mechanism comprising a base having a channel therein, a slidable bar mounted in said channel and having its inner end connected to switch points, a frame arching said slidable bar and having a weighted detent pivoted thereon, one arm of said detent being adapted to engage a notch in the face of the slidable bar and a second notch in the face of the slidable bar and so positioned that when the switch points are thrown by the flanges of the train wheels the end of the arm of the detent lever will be forced out of engagement with the notch and into the second notch for preventing displacement of the slidable bar, and a hand operating mechanism comprising a pivoted lever having a link pivoted thereto, said link being pro vided with an elongated notch in which a cleat on the slidable bar engages, said cleat being narrower than the notch, thereby allowing free longitudinal movement of the slidable bar when operated by the flanges of wheels and also forming engaging means whereby the slidable bar may be moved by hand.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ORA SPENCER.

Witnesses C. E. LARIMER, EUGENE WRIGHT.

Washington, D. G. 

